Mechanical pencil with step-by-step feed



March 16., 1948 J. B. TRAYLoR MECHANICAL PENCIL WITH STEP-BY-STEP FEED Filed April 24, 1945 INVENToR. rfb/,w 5, TRA VL ole,

Afro/avan Patented Mar. 16, 1948 i @NME S'EATIES QSFFEICE John B. Traylor, iDenver, 6010.

Application April 24, 1945,.Seral:N,o. .590,035

6 Claims. (Cl. l1Z0-#1?) vMy invention relates to pencils and has particular reference to mechanically actuated pencils of the type in which a handle or holder is shaped to receive individual lengths of pencil leads to be fed from the interior of the pencil assembly as leads are consumed.

Various types of mechanically actuated pencil structures are in common use, such pencilsusually comprising a handle or holder in Which alen'gth of separate lead is inserted, the holder having mechanism provided whereby a rotational'moveyment of a portion of the handle relative to some other portion of the handle will cause a push rod device to engage the inner end of the length of pencil lead and force the same out 'through the pencil tip.

In other forms a ratchet mechanism actuated by a pressure exerted upon a portion ofthe pencil holder or handle is employed to `project the lead from the pencil tip as'it is consumed.

All 0f these forms of pencils require a ceasing of 'the Writing activity of the user and some'postive `operation of a portion of the pencil 'in order to feed additional lead from the pencil tip, such operations invariably requiring the pencil 'to be shifted from its normal writing position in the hand in order that the lead feeding mechanism may be manipulated.

It is an object of my invention to provide 'a lpencil construction of the general character Vset forth above, but in which the lead may be fed from the pencil tip while the pencil is still in a Writing position in the hand of the user.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pencil construction of the character described wherein a sharp reciprocation or vshakingof the pencil in a direction coincident with or Vparallel to Ythe longitudinal axis of the pencil willaccomplish a step by step feeding of the lead from .the

`pencil tip.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pencil construction of the character set forth wherein a small Weight is employed within the pencil handle adapted to be shaken by a reciprocatory motion of the pencil handle, the weight storing up a suicient energy to actuate the 4lead feeding mechanism to feed the lead from the pencil tip.

Another object of my invention is'to provide a pencil of the construction set forth in therpreceding paragraph wherein at the end of the feeding motion the lead pushing mechanism will be locked against retraction of the lead as the user resumes writing with the pencil.

l2 from astudy o'fthe following speccaticns,read 'in :connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein 1 Fig. 'l is. a vertical'sectional view takenthrough 'a pencilgconstruction embodying the principles Uf my invention.

'Fig 2 is 4a detailed fragmentary perspective view ofthe lead pushing and 'feeding vmechanism 4and the .rrormal position of the parts when the leadisinawr'itingpositon.

i3 is ajperspr-:ctive view similar 'to TFig. $2 and illustrating the ipcsition "ci the 'parts when -a kportion pf 'the feeding mechanism is retracted readytofeedtheleadforwardlyinthepenciL Fig. 4 *isa :perspective -view simil-ar :to Fig. B 'illustrating 'thefposition vof `the-partsduring the 'intermediate step inthe operation o'f f'feeding the 4vlead "forwardly Fig. 'f5 is a rdetailed 'transverse sectional `view taken alonglineV-fvfof'lilig. :1.

Referring to thedrawings `I `have illustrated v'a pencil -construc'tion comprising generally a 'tul-bu'lar housing or handle I preferably constructed of lmetal or a similar material which "will have 25 Athe `characteristic -e :substantial strength y'even though themalls of the -tiibular Jhandle -are :made relatively 'thin so as ftolprovide 'an inner chamber 2 of a substantial cross sectional areawitliin "thelfiandle I. Y

:The 'lfonwardfendo'f 4the handle il is secured in vfa suitable manner, Aas `iimiicated :at 3, to '-a 'pencil structure 4 comprising 1an externally itapered 'member lhav'ing a 'longitudinal leere -5 `extending "therethrough o'f iapproximately the same diam- :etereas the fdiameter-'o'f a lengthloffpendilleadt to 'be used in lthe fpencil. 'The 7pencil `tip '13 fhas a vcounter-bore, as findicatedfat 21, `fior the deception :of a `basket-like spring .8 adapted to tengage the sides .fc'f the lead f6 to rictionallyl'ho'ld the same within the tip 4, but through which the lead may be iedby fforce exerted by the 'lead ifeedingmechl'anism ihereinazlter i described.

'The `:lead eeding mechanism :comprises fa `vlxed l'ead guide r9 :comprising fa Vfsubstan'tially :tubular member extending from :1a position :immediately above the spring 8 to apositionadjacent therear end .of :the :pencil where it may fbe :engaged with :a cup-like container Il adapted ato fhold a supply .of :lengths fof rpencil lead. The lead :guide 59 is fshaped, :ias indicated most clearly 'in Fi'gs. r2, :3 :and '4, as 1a Stube having an "internal bore v:lf|, .conforming Linfdiameter Lwith the diameter of fthe leadsto'b'e usedfin the'pencillbut havingra longiftudirral islot lf2 extending substantially through- Other objects of my invention will v'be apparent 55 rout xits Elength, the fslo't having one of its -`slides I3 smooth, while the opposite side is formed with a. plurality of regularly spaced downwardly directed ratchet teeth I4.

Mounted within the bore II of the lead guide 9 is a, push rod I5, cylindrical in shape and having a diameter such that it will freely move up and down within the bore II. The push rod I5 has upon its upper end a. head I6 comprising a pawl having a transverse cross-sectional shape of a segment of a circle projecting laterally from the circle dened by the push rod I5, the width of the head I6 projected through the slot I2 being equal to the minimum space between the smooth edge I3 and the edge of the teeth I4 so that the head I6 may freely pass along the slot I2.

Surrounding the lead guide 9 is a weight guide I1 constructed as a length of tubular member having a slot I8 extending longitudinally throughout its length, the slot I8, like the slot I2, being formed with one smooth edge I9 and a plurality of downwardly projecting teeth upon the opposed edge, the teeth conforming in shape and depth with the teeth I4. It will be observed, however, that the smooth edge I9 of the Weight guide is disposed adjacent the toothed edge of the lead guide 9 and the teeth 20 on the weight guide are disposed adjacent the smooth edge of the slot I2 on the lead guide.

By referring particularly to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the overall length of the weight guide .I 'I is slightly less than the length of the lead guide `9 so that the weight guide is permitted a limin excess of the longitudinal length of one of the teeth 20, so that the weight guide may be retracted from its normal or lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to an elevated position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to present the next lowermost tooth 20 above the push rod head I6.

To accomplish the reciprocatory movement of the weight guide Il, I mount a tubular weight 2| loosely upon the weight guide I1 for free movement longitudinally along the weight guide, the weight guide being provided at spaced points along its length with stops or obstructions 22 and 23.

I interpose between the tip and the weight guide I1, a spring 24 indicated as being anchored at 25 in the tip and at 26 in the weight guide, the spring being illustrated as a helical spring under rotary tension so that the weight guide I1 is normally urged in a clockwise direction relative to the lead guide 9, with the result that the teeth 20 are urged against the side of the push rod head I6 to engage this head while the head of the push rod is urged against the teeth I4 of the lead guide II to engage above the push rod head I6.

Under the iniiuence of the spring 24 the push rod, lead guide and weight guide assume the positions shown in Fig. 2 where it is apparent that the push rod I5 is prevented from any upward or retractive movement by the engagement of the teeth I4 with the head I6.

Now if the pencil is given a longitudinal jolt or shake, the weight 2l will move up upon the weight guide I'I or pin until it strikes the pin or other obstruction 22, the inertia of the weight causing the weight` guide to be elevated through the short distance between the top of the weight guide and the container I0. At this instant the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the weight guide has been moved to an 4 elevated position, the teeth 20 rotating past the push rod head I6 by yielding of the spring 24 at a time when the push rod head is held against upward movement by its engagement with the teeth I4 on the lead guide II.

The descent of the weight 2l will result in the engagement by the weight of the pin or obstruction 23 to forcibly move the weight guide down to its original and normal position. During this movement of the weight guide the teeth 2li of the weight guide will engage the upper surface of the push rod head and will move the push rod down a distance equal to the normal spacing between the upper end of the Weight guide and the container ill, the push rod head ratcheting past the teeth I4 by the yielding action of the spring 24.

Thus as the writer uses up the projecting portion of the lead 6 all that is necessary is to give the pencil a longitudinal shake or jolt and a new poition of the lead will be projected downwardly of the tube of the pencil, this process being repeated until all of the lead has been consumed, at which time the push rod I5 will be in its lowermost position.

The container lll is rigidly secured to the lead guide 9 as by soldering or other suitable process, as indicated at 27, so that the container may be rotated relative to the handle I and will rotate the lead guide relative to the handle and tip.

rEhe container Il) is preferably formed with an open upper end which may be used to receive an eraser 23 to be covered by a cap 29 formed as a separate and removable piece, but by reason of its close t upon the upper end of the container I, or by an intertting of the cross sectional configurations given t0 the cap 29 and the upper end of the container I0, rotation of the cap 29 will result in the rotation of the container II).

Thus when the piece of lead which has been in the lead guide has been completely consumed a new piece of lead may be inserted from the tip end of the pencil and the push rod I5 may be pressed back to its uppermost or original position by pressure exerted upon the incoming lead. During this operation, however, the cap 29 is given a slight twist or lateral movement relative to the handle member I which will rotate the lead guide I9 relative to the weight guide 9. Such rotation will free the push rod head I6 from the notches I4, while at the same time the head is freed from the notches 20, and push rod I5 is free for a retractive movement along the slots I2 and I8 guided on each side of the head I6 by the smooth edges I3 and I9. When the lead has been completely inserted into the pencil a release of the cap 29 will permit the spring 24 to restore the lead guide and weight guide to their original relative rotational positions as shown in Fig. 2 and the pencil is again ready for use and for lead feeding by imparting a longitudinal shake or jolt to the assembly.

It would be apparent therefore that a writer using the pencil merely has to cease writing and raise his hand from the surface upon which he has been writing a suiiicient distance to impart a sharp jerk to the pencil with the result that a fresh section of the lead will be projected out of the tip end of the pencil ready for the resumption of writing operations.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details illustrated or described herein except as defined in the appended claims.

.ensmsg I claim:

l. In a pencil construction,a handle member, a lead guiding tip on one lend of said handle through which a lead is fed to expose a short length outwardly of the tip, a lead guide extending longitudinally of said handle, a push rod slidably mounted in said lead guide and having a lpawl extending laterally of said push rod, a longitudinally extending slot in said lead guide, through which said pawl extends, the material of the lead guide at one side of said slot being provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth engageable with said pawl, and e, weight means mounted in said handle for free longitudinal movement along said handle for imparting an impact to said push rod upon a reciprocatory movement of the assembly to move said push rod and pawl to the next tooth in the direction of the movement of lead out to the tip of the pencil.

2. In a pencil construction, a handle member, a lead guiding tip on one end of said handle through which a lead is fed to expose a short length outwardly of the tip, a lead guide extending longitudinally of said handle, a push rod slideably mounted in said lead guide and having a pawl extending laterally of said push rod, a, longitudinally extending slot in said lead guide through which said pawl extends, the material of the lead guide at one side of said slot defining a plurality of ratchet teeth engageable with said pawl, a second ratchet means in said handle including a plurality of downwardly directed ratchet teeth extending longitudinally of said handle, means mounting said ratchet means for a limited longtudinal movement in said handle, and a weight means associated with said ratchet means and actuated by a reciprocatory motion imparted to the assembly for causing said ratchet means to lirst move rearwardly from said tip to engage the next succeeding tooth thereon with the pawl and then to move forwardly toward the tip to press the push rod to a new forward position engageable with the next succeeding tooth on the lead guide to thereby feed a new portion of the lead from the pencil tip.

3. In a pencil construction, a handle member, a lead guiding tip on one end oi" said handle through which a lead is fed to expose a short length outwardly of the tip, a lead guide extending longitudinally of said handle, a push rod slideably mounted in said lead guide and having a pawl extending laterally of said push rod, a longitudinally extending slot in said lead guide through which said pawl extends, the material of the lead guide at one side of said slot defining a plurality of ratchet teeth engageable with said pawl, a second ratchet means in said handle including a, plurality of downwardly directed ratchet teeth extending longitudinally of said handle, means mounting said ratchet means for a limited longitudinal movement in said handle, a weight means associated with said ratchet means and actuated by a reciprocatory motion imparted to the assembly for causing said ratchet means to first move rearwardly from said tip to engage the next succeeding tooth thereon with the pawl and then to move forwardly toward the tip to press the push rod to a new position engageable with the next succeeding tooth on the lead guide to thereby feed a new portion of the lead from the pencil tip, and a yieldable means normally urging said ratchet means and said lead guide to such relative rotational positions as will maintain said pawl engaged with the teeth on both the lead guide and the ratchet means.

'4. In ra Y\pencilconstruction a :handle imember, a ilead guiding `tip .on :one fend of vsaid ,handle 'through which a lead :is red `to expose :a short length.` outwardly @of the "tip, Aa lead guide extending longitudinally `of Vsaid handle, a push :rod

.slideably mounted in 'said lead Yguide and Yhaving a pawl extending laterally lof :said :push rod, a longitudinally extending slot in said lead guide through `which said pawl extends, fthe material of `the'lead .guide at one side -of :said slot dening ya plurality vof ratchet teethengageable vwith said pawlVa second `ratchet means in said handle including a plurality of downwardly directed ratchet teeth extending longitudinally of said handle, means mounting said ratchet means for a limited longitudinal movement in said handle, a weight means associated with said ratchet means and actuated by a reciprocatory motion imparted to the assembly for causing said ratchet means to iirst move rearwardly from said tip to engage the next succeeding tooth thereon with the pawl and then to move forwardly toward the tip to press the push rod to a new forward position engageable with the next succeeding tooth on the lead guide to thereby feed a new portion of the lead from the pencil tip, and spring means interposed between said lead guide and said ratchet means for yieldably urging said ratchet means and lead guide to such rotatable position as will cause the teeth of both of said members to engage said pawl.

5. In a pencil construction; a handle member, a lead guiding tip on one end of said handle through which a lead is fed to expose a short length outwardly of the tip, a lead guide extending longitudinally of said handle, a push rod slideably mounted in said lead guide and having a pawl extending laterally of said push rod, a longitudinally extending slot in said lead guide through which said pawl extends, the material of the lead guide at one side of said slot dening a plurality of ratchet teeth engageable with said pawl, a second ratchet means in said handle including la plurality of downwardly directed ratchet teeth extending longitudinally of said handle, means mounting said ratchet means for a limtied longitudinal movement in said handle, a weight means associated with said ratchet means and actuated by a reciprocatory motion imparted to the assembly for causing said ratchet means to rst move rearwardly from said tip to engage the next succeeding tooth thereon with the pawl and then to move forwardly toward the tip to press the push rod to a new forward position engageable with the next succeeding tooth on the lead guide to thereby feed a new portion of the lead from the pencil tip, a yieldable means normally urging said ratchet means and said lead guide to such relative rotational positions ,as will maintain said pawl engaged with the teeth on Iboth the lead guide and the ratchet means, and means for rotating said lead guide and ratchet means to another position disengaging the teeth of both of said members from said pawl to permit retraction of said pawl and push rod.

6. A pencil construction comprising a hollow handle member, a. stationary tubular member disposed therein for guiding lead and having a longitudinal slot therein that is provided with a continuous series of notches on one edge, a lead advancing pawl disposed within said guide and projecting through said slot and having means to engage said notches to prevent its movement in one direction, a movable member disposed about said guide for movement -therealong and REFERENCES CITED having a series of notches for engaging said pawl that are substantially the same Size as the guide The following references are of record in the notches and llreventtng movelrlneir; sizlilarly to me of this patent:

the ude note es, an means m ng e movemen?I of the movable member along the lead guide 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS to a distance not less than the length of a notch Number Name Date and not more than a distance just slightly less 394,016 Sanden Dec. 4, 1888 than the length of two notches, whereby reCDrO- 1,425,323 Kay Aug. 8, 1922 cation of the movable member advances the pawl 10 2,385,329 Buchanan Sept. 25, 1945 not more than one notch for each reciprocation.

JOI-IN B. TRAYLOR. 

